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The Curious Case of a Missing ‘What’!

The once eventful house; it stands by a gently flowing stream, amongst hundreds of lush coconut and arecanut trees in a quiet countryside in Kerala. It is huge – splendid and palatial. Built by my forefathers, the house is a testimony to yesterday's craftsmanship and tomorrow's ideas. It also promises a breadth of fresh air, bright and smiling sun, clear sky, and inviting greenery – indeed a marvelous place to spend time with oneself! Go back in time; the house had in it fathers and mothers and uncles and aunts and sons and daughters and brothers and sisters and cousins and servants and even cows and goats - all under one same roof!

Though I have not spent many days with relatives in this house; here I experience a strong feeling of belonging. I believe that wherever life takes me to, some day I will have to return to my roots which is here. I have also felt close to people whom I have not seen even once in my life - my great grand fathers and mothers! They were the brave warriors who led many battles and returned to kingdom successfully! Powerful, rich and respected…! What more could they have asked for?

Information courtesy: my super-creative mom, who through her bedtime stories made our ancestors my ultimate heroes. Now in the heaven, I wonder what they will be feeling for their grand children – the corporate slaves living on bank loans in comparatively congested apartments, breathing polluted air!

However, this story is not about us - the disgraceful and snobbish bunch. This is perhaps a century old story - of my dominant forerunners, the background being the house described above.

Once upon a time, there lived a strong, yet a very kind person. He was the king’s most favored and trusted person, the civilians’ defender and the family’s guardian! He was loved and highly respected. But one fine day, to everybody’s shock, he went missing. And, nobody could answer why and where! The only evidence left was a lost brass vessel (mutka) from the veranda of the house. The chapter of the missing person was soon closed concluding that he has left the house and the territory with the mutka. In an era deprived of technology to trace a missing person, I doubt if anybody has even attempted to investigate further.

Anyways, the story does not end there. Generations after him believe that our man has gone to Kasi for pilgrimage. How did they arrive at the decision? Obviously, because he carried the mutka along. Logical finish, huh?!

Here is my take – Did anybody notice a long wooden stick too missing from the house? May be a cloth bag too?! A mutka, walking stick and a cloth bag – these are the ‘must’ accessories for Kasi visit!

 Wishing all of you a very happy and a fabulous Diwali.

12 comments:

Nona said...

Happy Diwali to you too!

The mystery is unsolved and now you have made us a party to it too!

While reading this post, I liked the following phrase a lot "testimony to yesterday's craftsmanship and tomorrow's ideas". Brilliant usage.

raji said...

hm..good story and good conclusion by your ancestors."kashi yatra"sounds logical ;and this should be a nice "grandma tale"for you right?

Rohan said...

I think u should make a journey to kaashi. . Who knows. . He probably would hav becom a gr8 sage and he'l be havin rich followers now. . ;-) You can also get a share u know. .
(Am in hyper mode today! :-D)
Happy diwali!!

dr.antony said...

A common destination those days who had enough of the hastles of life, or got contented. Life was simpler,world was smaller, and not much aspirations like going to America. Or else, Thacholi Kurups would have been in the US.!

Haddock said...

In all probability your guess may be right.
Especially if his soul mate must have left earlier than him to her heavenly abode.
That makes a man lonely (and may feel as a burden to his children)
I know of a man who committed suicide in a similar circumstance, not that his children were not taking care of him, but he did just that.

Pink Mango Tree said...

@ Nona - Thanks Nona!

@ Raji - it was one of the most told stories! And as a kid, I used to wonder how long his beard would be! :)

@ Rohan - Yes, I think I should! And keep ur mood the same way! :)

@ dr.antony - hahaha... imagine all the kurups in the US shopping at Walmart in their fancy attire!

@ Haddock - no no! his soulmate was at home when he silently eloped! ;) ;)

Chandu said...

Every mansion built a century back has it's own treasure trove of stories - of all genres. Spend some time on research, and you might stuble upon even astounding ones!
By the way, Happy Diwali!

Prateek Sur said...

happy deepavali to u too..try checking out my blog and commenting on the posts..
am following u nd i hope so someday u'l return my favour!!
www.headacheandtension.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Nice! People who have nostalgic memories only can write well. And u have proved it to be right!

Rgds,
Preeth

Pink Mango Tree said...

@ Chandu - I cannnot agree more! Hope you had a splendid festival!

@ Prateek - Thanks! :)

@ Preeth - very sweet of u to say this! :)

Meety said...

:-) no wonder I see a saint in you..at times.... it runs in the family eh??

Bikram said...

Thank for the wishes Hope you had a fantabulos diwali toooo :)

a good mystery nd yeah how do stories come up :) but i like the way you thought what about the stick and other stuff missing :)

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